OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN CHEMET CORPORATION

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9778.00 · Current $4889.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(ix): The written respiratory protection program did not contain procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program:    a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working with products such as but not limited to:  Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets while using these chemicals in various phases of the cupric oxide process. The employer did not establish work-site specific procedures to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the program as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(ix).

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  a) American Chemet Corporation:  On March 6, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respiratory hazards including but not limited to; ammonium chemicals and copper dust. Employees are not required to wear any type of respiratory protection except on a voluntary basis. The types of respirators being worn voluntarily are 3M particulate dust masks with an exhalation valve.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  a) American Chemet: On March 3, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respiratory hazards including but not limited to; ammonium chemicals and copper dust. Employees were not provided with a medical evaluation to be certified to wear a respirator in accordance with Appendix D of a respiratory protection program. The types of respirators being worn voluntarily are 3M particulate dust masks with an exhalation valve.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:   a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working with products such as but not limited to:  Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets while using these chemicals in various phases of the cupric oxide process. The employer required respirators but did not select the appropriate respirator for protection as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(i).

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:    a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working with products such as but not limited to:  Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets while using these chemicals in various phases of the cupric oxide process. The employer did not provide training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations for employees required to use the respirators as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(vii).

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9778.00 · Current $4889.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:    a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to hazards such as skin burns and irritation while working with metals such as but not limited to: copper fragments and powders, cupric oxide, cuprous oxide, and zinc oxide.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(b): The employer did not base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the  a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working such as but not limited to:  Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9778.00 · Current $4889.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1): All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:    a) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to the presence of lead in the workplace.     b) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, employees were eating and drinking in areas that have surfaces contaminated with lead.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9778.00 · Current $4889.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:      a) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical and metal hazards from products and chemicals such as but not limited to: Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, copper fragments and powders, cupric oxide, cuprous oxide, and zinc oxide, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets. The employer failed to ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provides at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals.      b) American Chemet Corporation: On or about March 8, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical and metal hazards such as but not limited to:  Aqua Ammonia Solution, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Acetate, Ammonia Bisulfate, copper fragments and powders, cupric oxide, cuprous oxide, and zinc oxide, and unknown brown and blue liquids in five gallon buckets. The employer failed to provide effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of copper dust listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration above the PEL of 1.0 mg/m3:  a) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that the ventilation system was maintained in effective operation.    b) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to 1.65 mg/m3 of copper dust while placing bags under the packaging area to be filled with the final product.   c) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, employees were exposed to 2.73 mg/m3 of copper dust while adjusting the amount of product inside the bags and while sealing the bags.

Issued

2017-07-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-08-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a) Packaging, American Chemet: On April 4, 2017, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that job rotation, adjusting the weight in the bags, and closing the bags was being performed properly.